Tree Carving Sculpture Public Art
Created by Chicago Sculpture International for Ragdale Artist Residency 2024
Public Art Installation
The Ragdale Tree Project, “Diversity of Birds,” was created by Chicago Sculpture International for the Ragdale Foundation Artist Residency Program. A 200 year old elm tree passed away from Dutch Elm disease and was transformed into a public art tree sculpture by a team of artists – Margot McMahon, Mia Capodilupo, Anthony Heinz May, Jyl Bonaguro, Nicole Beck, Julia Sulmasy, and Fredy Hauman Mallqui with photography by Laurie Irwin. Since 2014, Chicago Sculpture International CSI / Chicago Tree Project with Chicago Park District has created over 50 public art sculptures from dead and dying trees with their sustainable public art program. I was thrilled to be part of this project and felt like a bird everyday as I climbed the scaffolding and perched on the tree carving away with my wood mallet and chisels.
This project was made possible with the generous support of Louisa and Nelson Levy.
Diversity of Birds Tree Carving Sculpture for Artist Residency Program at Ragdale Foundation
20h x 10w x 5d feet wood
View the Start to Finish video Diversity of Birds. Learn about the Ragdale Foundation and its’ artist residency program and watch the team members carve the tree into a public art sculpture with hand tools like chisels and mallets and power tools like chainsaws and grinders.
Diversity of Birds – Carving a Tree at the Ragdale Foundation by Chicago Sculpture International
